Find Academic Supervisors

• Evolutionary biology
• Biogeography
• Phylogenetics
• +9 more

Dr. Nicholas Matzke is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences , University of Auckland, New Zealand. His research revolutionizes biogeography by integrating extinction, fossils, organismal traits, and paleogeography into computationally efficient frameworks. Education: PhD in Integrative Biology (2013), University of California, Berkeley MA in Geography (2003), University of California, Santa Barbara Double BSc in Biology and Chemistry (1998), Valparaiso University Dr. Matzke's research spans three major domains: phylogenetic biogeography (developing methods to model trait-dependent dispersal), bacterial flagellum evolution (collaborating on experimental and bioinformatic analyses), and macroevolutionary modeling (integrating fossils and morphological data). His work on the FBD-MSC model and trait-dependent dispersal has transformed divergence time estimation and biogeographical inference. Recent publications show consistent focus on: Integrating molecular and fossil data in phylogenies Quantifying trait-dispersal interactions in rails and crocodiles Modeling historical biogeography using BioGeoBEARS Reconstructing evolutionary timelines with Bayesian methods His 2021 work on Caninae phylogeny demonstrates the power of combined MSC-FBD approaches, while 2019 studies on crocodilian range expansion revealed unexpected trait-dispersal correlations. Scientific Recognition: 2015-2018: Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Fellow at Australian National University 2017: Associate Fellow of The Higher Education Academy As an accredited PhD supervisor with active Marsden Grant projects, Dr. Matzke trains students in phylogenetics, computational modeling, and paleogeographic reconstruction. His lab combines custom software development with empirical studies across diverse taxa, from Rana frogs to Crocodylus crocodiles.

Molly WomackView profile

Assistant Professor

• Evolutionary Development (Evo-Devo)
• Macroevolutionary Patterns
• Trait Loss
• +4 more

Molly Womack is an Assistant Professor at Cornell University in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from Colorado State University (2016) and a B.S. from the University of Florida (2010). Her research focuses on evolutionary patterns and processes, particularly in amphibians, examining how developmental plasticity, environmental pressures, and sensory systems shape biodiversity. Her work integrates field and lab studies to explore evolutionary development (evo-devo), trait loss, and sensory ecology. Key themes include: evolutionary development’s role in trait evolvability, adaptation vs. constraint in species survival, and functional differences in animal sensory systems. The Womack Lab emphasizes amphibian systems, with studies on wood frogs, harlequin frogs, and toads. Recent publications (2020–2025) highlight investigations into developmental plasticity in anurans, the evolutionary loss of middle ear structures, and the ecological impacts of trait adaptation. She teaches undergraduate courses (BIOEE 1781, BIOEE 7600) and supervises Ph.D. research (BIOEE 9990). Molly has received the NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology (2016) and contributes to conservation-focused reviews like State of the Amphibia 2020 .

Sallie W. ChisholmView profile

Professor

• Marine Microbiology
• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• +3 more

Sallie (Penny) W. Chisholm is an Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), renowned for her pioneering research on Prochlorococcus, the most abundant marine phytoplankton species. Her work bridges microbial ecology, evolution, and global biogeochemical cycles, focusing on how these microbes influence ocean ecosystems. Education: PhD in Biology (1974, SUNY Albany). Awards: National Medal of Science (2011), Crafoord Prize (2019), and multiple fellowships (AAAS, NAS). She co-authored children’s books on photosynthesis and co-leads the Chisholm Lab, which explores Prochlorococcus’s role in carbon cycling and climate. Research emphasizes Prochlorococcus’s genetic diversity, metabolic interactions, and adaptation to environmental gradients. Key themes include cross-feeding among microbes, genomic plasticity, and symbiotic relationships with heterotrophs. Her findings highlight the interplay between microbial diversity and ecosystem function. Lab: Chisholm Lab (MIT) Key Collaborations: Global Ocean Sampling, GEOTRACES Public Engagement: TED Talk on Prochlorococcus’s role in Earth’s oxygen production.

John FitzpatrickView profile

Professor

• Sexual Selection
• Evolutionary Biology
• Reproductive Behavior
• +7 more

John Fitzpatrick is a Professor at the Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, leading the Fitzpatrick Lab. His research integrates experimental and phylogenetic comparative approaches to study sexual selection's role in animal evolution, focusing on pre-mating competition, mate choice, sperm competition, and co-evolutionary dynamics between sexes. Department of Zoology: Ethology Wallenberg Academy Fellow President-elect, International Society for Behavioral Ecology Co-organizer, Biology of Spermatozoa biennial meeting Key Research Areas: Trade-offs among sexual traits in halfbeak fishes Macroevolution of reproductive behaviors in sharks, rays, and mammals Sperm behavior evolution across animal phyla Coloration evolution under natural and sexual selection Scientific Leadership: Editor, Behavioral Ecology (2014-2018) Board of Reviewing Editors, Journal of Evolutionary Biology (2011-2015) Collaborative Networks: Collaborations with National University of Singapore, University of Manchester, University of Western Australia, and Stockholm University's Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences department for pollen evolution studies. Awards: Wallenberg Academy Fellowship

• Power-law distributions
• Normal-Laplace distributions
• Circular distributions
• +6 more

William J. Reed is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Victoria, with a distinguished career spanning theoretical and applied statistics. His work bridges mathematical theory with real-world applications across ecology, finance, and biology, focusing on distributional phenomena in complex systems. Dr. Reed earned his Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia and has maintained an active research program for over three decades. His scholarly contributions are characterized by rigorous statistical modeling of natural and socioeconomic patterns. Research centers on probability distributions—particularly power-law, Normal-Laplace, and circular distributions—with applications in forest fire dynamics, income inequality, gene family evolution, and financial markets. His work explains why power-laws emerge universally across disciplines through mechanistic stochastic models. Recent publications emphasize survival analysis with bathtub-shaped hazard rates and directional data modeling. His publication trend (2000-2010) reveals interdisciplinary innovation: developing the double Pareto-lognormal distribution for size phenomena, modeling sexually transmitted disease networks, and creating Brownian-Laplace motion for financial applications. These works consistently connect theoretical distribution theory to empirical patterns in nature and society. Scientific Awards: No specific awards documented in source material Dr. Reed has supervised six graduate students on distribution-focused theses, including Peter Ott (1995) on animal abundance estimation, Tony Ho (1997) on wildfire modeling, and Fan Wu (2008) on Normal-Laplace applications. While grant details aren't specified, his collaborative work with B.D. Hughes demonstrates sustained research productivity across mathematical biology, economics, and environmental science.

Rachel SurprenantView profile

Research Fellow

• Paleontology
• Taphonomy
• Ediacaran Period
• +3 more

Rachel Surprenant is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Yale University. Her research focuses on understanding the taphonomic processes and paleoenvironmental contexts of Ediacaran organisms, particularly tubular taxa, to elucidate their role in evolutionary transitions during the Ediacaran Period and across the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary. She also investigates the influence of organic matgrounds on the Precambrian stratigraphic record and Ediacaran paleobiology. Her research interests include leveraging qualitative taphonomic data, petrographic analysis, and paleoenvironmental studies to address macroevolutionary patterns. She examines how taphonomic overprint varies across different environments and lifeforms, aiming to mitigate biases in interpreting the Ediacaran fossil record. No scientific awards have been listed for Rachel Surprenant. There is no information provided regarding advising or grants. She is affiliated with the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Yale University.

Hannah ByrneView profile

Visiting Professor

• Paleontology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Devonian Ecosystems
• +3 more

Hannah Byrne is a Visiting Professor at the Department of Organismal Biology at Uppsala University, specializing in Evolution and Development. Her research focuses on vertebrate evolution, Devonian ecosystems, and the environmental drivers of major evolutionary transitions. She collaborates internationally on projects involving fossil morphology analysis and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Key research interests include placoderm phylogeny, post-extinction ecosystem recovery, and the interplay between tides and vertebrate adaptation. Byrne's work bridges paleontology with geological and ecological data to understand macroevolutionary patterns. Her recent publications analyze coprolite ecosystems in post-Devonian settings and the role of tidal forces in fish-tetrapod evolution. While no specific awards are listed, her interdisciplinary approach has been widely cited in paleontological and geological literature. No advising or grant information is provided in the text.

Paul UpchurchView profile

Professor

• Paleontology
• Dinosaur Systematics
• Phylogenetics
• +4 more

Prof Paul Upchurch is a Professor of Palaeobiology at University College London's Department of Earth Sciences. His research focuses on vertebrate systematics and evolution, particularly dinosaurs (including sauropods, pterosaurs, and theropods), Mesozoic ecosystems, and biogeographic patterns. He teaches courses such as GEOL009 Vertebrate Palaeontology and Evolution and GEOL0021 Biodiversity and Macroevolutionary Patterns. His work integrates phylogenetic methods with analyses of fossil record quality to address macroevolutionary questions, including dinosaur origins, Cretaceous-Paleogene biotic turnovers, and latitudinal biodiversity gradients. Key contributions involve revising sauropod diversity in the Hateg Island, exploring Osedax interactions with marine reptiles, and evaluating sampling biases in ceratopsid phylogenies. Prof Upchurch collaborates extensively on global sauropod studies, with recent projects in Romania, China, and Australia. He leads the Vertebrate Palaeontology research group at UCL and actively publishes in high-impact journals like Nature and Palaeontology . His research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining morphological analysis with computational biogeography models to reconstruct ancient ecosystems. Ongoing projects address sauropod feeding adaptations and the impact of environmental changes on Mesozoic vertebrate diversity.

Matt HutchinsonView profile

Assistant Professor

• Behavioral Ecology
• Community Ecology
• Plant-Animal Interactions
• +3 more

Matthew Hutchinson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Life & Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Merced , affiliated with the School of Natural Sciences . He leads the Hutchinson Lab , which focuses on understanding foraging decisions of animals and their broader ecological consequences. His work integrates behavioral ecology, community ecology, and ecosystem dynamics, with research sites in African savannas and Californian grasslands. Research interests include: Behavioral mechanisms underlying dietary choices Effects of herbivory on plant communities Ecosystem engineering by large herbivores Climate change impacts on species interactions Recent studies highlight how herbivore foraging shapes plant-pollinator networks, suppresses liana infestation, and mediates community resilience to extreme events like cyclones. His work bridges theoretical and applied ecology, with implications for conservation and rewilding strategies. Advising includes graduate students Luca Kuziel and Sean Lyon, and undergraduates Geneva Easton and Selina Nguyen. Research grants likely support fieldwork in Africa and California, though specific funding details are not provided here. The lab collaborates on large-scale projects such as the HERD Lab , exploring trophic interactions and biodiversity dynamics. Future work may expand into parasitism patterns in herbivore communities and long-term climate adaptation strategies.

Andrew LeslieView profile

Assistant Professor

• Paleobotany
• Conifer Ecology
• Phylogeny
• +4 more

Andrew Leslie is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Stanford University. He previously served as a professor in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at Brown University and conducted postdoctoral research at Yale University's School of Forestry and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. His academic journey includes a PhD in Paleontology from the University of Chicago (2010) and a BA in Biochemistry and Geology from the University of Pennsylvania (2004). Leslie's research explores plant evolution through deep time, with particular emphasis on: Phylogenetic relationships and macroevolutionary patterns in conifers Functional morphology and biomechanics of plant reproductive structures Paleobotanical investigations of fossil taxa from Devonian to Cretaceous periods Ecological drivers of conifer diversity and distribution Evolution of complexity in plant reproductive innovations His publications demonstrate a consistent focus on integrating paleontological evidence with contemporary biological approaches, with recent work examining reproductive complexity across vascular plants, serotiny in Cupressaceae, and novel reproductive strategies in early Devonian flora. The research consistently bridges paleobotany, evolutionary biology, and functional morphology. Leslie leads a research laboratory at Stanford and maintains active collaborations with institutions including Yale University, University of Arkansas, and Louisiana State University. He mentors students in paleobotanical research methods and evolutionary studies.

Kiran BasavaView profile

Research Fellow

• Cultural Evolution
• Phylogenetics
• Comparative Databases
• +4 more

Kiran Basava is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Arizona's Data Diversity Lab, building the Animal Culture Database (ACDB) to study socially transmitted animal behaviors amid anthropogenic changes. Her work applies phylogenetic methods to cross-cultural and cross-species analyses of social and cognitive evolution. Her academic background includes: PhD in Anthropology from the University of Oxford MSc in Human Evolution and Behaviour from University College London (UCL) BA in Global Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Research focuses on cultural evolution, database construction, and phylogenetic modeling of warfare practices, animal traditions, and cephalopod cognition. She bridges anthropology, biology, and data science to explore macroevolutionary patterns in human and nonhuman behavior, emphasizing large-scale comparative frameworks. Publications (2018-2025) reveal consistent themes: animal culture databases (2025), cephalopod brain evolution (2024), warfare ecology (2022), and phylogenetic analyses of religious conflict (2018-2021). Her work prioritizes methodological innovation in linking historical and behavioral datasets across disciplines. No scientific awards or grant details are documented. She contributes to the Diverse Intelligences project and previously coded for the Seshat Global History Databank during her Oxford PhD.

Daniel FieldView profile

Researcher

• Paleontology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Macroevolutionary Transitions
• +6 more

Daniel Field is a vertebrate paleontologist and evolutionary biologist affiliated with both the Department of Earth Sciences and Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge. He oversees the University of Cambridge Museum of Zoology’s extensive ornithology collections and the Cambridge Biotomography Centre , a high-resolution microCT scanning facility. His research focuses on macroevolutionary transitions in birds and other vertebrates, particularly their survival and diversification after the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction. Key Research Areas: Avian biodiversity origins Evolutionary morphology Phylogenetic and divergence time analysis Developmental mechanisms of flightlessness Mass extinction impacts on vertebrates His lab employs digital morphology, geometric morphometrics, phylogenetics, and embryology. He collaborates with institutions like Yale University and the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath. Field’s work bridges fossil data with molecular and anatomical studies to resolve evolutionary mysteries.

Marcel CardilloView profile

Professor

• Macroecology
• Macroevolution
• Biogeography
• +3 more

Marcel Cardillo is a Professor at the Research School of Biology, Australian National University. He obtained his PhD from the University of Queensland and has held prestigious fellowships, including a Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship and a Natural Environment Research Council Fellowship in the UK. His academic journey includes leadership roles in the Cardillo Group, focusing on macroevolution, macroecology, and biogeography. Research Interests: His work addresses large-scale biodiversity questions, such as tropical species richness, Mediterranean hotspots, and extinction risk prediction. He integrates computational tools with phylogenetic and geographic datasets to explore evolutionary and ecological processes. Article Trends: His recent publications span language diversity biogeography, migratory butterfly conservation, and invasive pathogen impacts. Themes include climate change effects, phylogenetic conservation, and ecological drivers of extinction risk, with subtopics like niche contraction, dietary adaptation, and island biogeography. Scientific Awards: ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA), 2025 University Medal for Biology, 2022 Transdisciplinary & Innovation Grant, 2016 Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2016 Natural Environment Research Council Fellowship (UK), 2005 Students & Lab: He supervises PhD and Honours students, currently leading projects on Australian plant diversification and extinction risk. His lab collaborates with the Macroevolution and Macroecology Group.

Oscar JohnsonView profile

Assistant Professor

• Evolutionary Biology
• Ornithology
• Taxonomy and Systematics
• +5 more

Dr. Oscar Johnson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), part of the College of Arts & Sciences. He joined FGCU in 2024 and specializes in ornithology, focusing on evolutionary questions ranging from population divergence to macroevolutionary patterns. His research emphasizes tropical regions, particularly in biodiversity hotspots where research is historically underrepresented. He is a member of several professional societies, including the American Ornithological Society (since 2014), Society of Systematic Biologists (since 2016), and the Florida Ornithological Society (since 2023). Dr. Johnson’s research interests include phylogenetics, population genetics, and integrative taxonomy. He explores co-occurrence dynamics post-speciation and trait diversity in suboscine passerines. His work often intersects with citizen science and conservation efforts. He holds a Ph.D. and has conducted fieldwork across Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean before pursuing academia. His publications span avian taxonomy, ecological studies, and genetic analyses, with recent articles addressing species limits in North American birds, Amazonian biodiversity, and invasive species impacts. Though no formal awards are listed, his contributions to ornithological databases like AVONET highlight his collaborative approach to advancing avian science. Dr. Johnson’s advising and grants are not detailed in the provided materials, but his extensive fieldwork experience and interdisciplinary focus suggest active engagement in academic mentorship and research funding. His lab and team activities are centered on avian conservation and systematics, as reflected in his personal research website (https://www.oscarjohnson.net/).

Brian KreiserView profile

Professor

• population genetics
• phylogeography
• evolutionary biology
• +1 more

Brian Kreiser is a Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, specializing in population genetics, phylogeography, and evolutionary biology. He teaches courses including Genetics, Population Genetics, Evolution, Conservation Biology, and Principles of Biological Sciences II. His research focuses on genetic diversity in endangered species, particularly freshwater turtles, fish, and sturgeon, emphasizing conservation strategies and habitat impacts. His work spans topics such as population genetics of gopher tortoises, hybridization in gar species, and mitochondrial genome characterization of imperiled fish. Recent publications highlight critical habitat expansions for Gulf sturgeon and cryptic species discoveries in turtles. He employs molecular techniques like microsatellite loci and low-coverage sequencing to address conservation challenges. Though no awards are explicitly listed, his extensive research portfolio demonstrates significant contributions to biodiversity conservation and evolutionary biology. His grants and advising activities are not detailed here.